This is a very astute set of observations.

That’s fair. That said, I have a current-generation X5 xDrive45e, which is the PHEV. While it’s great around town, with 30 miles of honest-to-goodness electric range, it gets worse fuel economy on the highway than the regular mild-hybrid xDrive40i model. It’s lugging around an extra 800 lbs of battery it can’t use.…

I was looking at that very 2015 A8 L TDI this morning. There were very few A8 L TDIs, and even fewer facelift (2015+) ones, because that’s right when Volkswagen Group got caught out for cheating on the diesel emissions.

If you want something a little sleeker and less barge-like--though I prefer luxobarges--Audi also…

Hertz is pretty lousy. Last year, I did a one-way rental to get back home after my just-purchased ‘96 Jaguar XJ12 died two miles from where it started (because of course it did). The rental in question was a pre-refresh version of the current Chevy Equinox, with hard miles on it.

That’s true. It and various other Lexus vehicles dating back to roughly 2001 had the manual fan speed adjustment buried in the touchscreen. Such was also the case for my 2008 LS 600h L and 2011 LS 460 L AWD.

Funnily enough, I also had a GX 460 that same year, a 2021. Sadly, this is one year before they got the long-needed infotainment upgrade. That one was less offensive simply because it wasn’t trying very hard. And it never lagged.

I had a 2022 Outback Touring XT with the 11.3-inch screen. I hated that system. Not only did the graphics look like those of a 2006 flip phone, it was extremely buggy. It could generally be counted upon to lag, confuse me and other operators, and—not infrequently—crash and reboot altogether, taking with it the…

New Jersey drivers are insane.

Not quite the same, but when I was little (1990s), my dad had a 1964 Chevy Impala Coupe (327/2-speed PowerGlide, if you please). It had only lap belts in the front and no belts at all in the rear. I sat in the front until my sister was born. After that, she and her car seat went in the front, while I rode in the back,…

Sadly, this is probably for the best. I have a BMW X5 PHEV. It is adorned with various conflicting monikers and trademarks, including “xDrive45e,” “Electrified By i”, “iDrive” and “eDrive.”

I’m just upset that Missy has never had a Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

I’m sad my X5 weighs as much as a Bentayga.

Oh, I don’t mind.

Hey, I think a track weapon is a great idea for a four-car garage.

Fair enough. It did say that.

I definitely want an X358 XJ Super Portfolio.

A Radical. Woof. And people made fun of me! Get ready to be really chummy with that engine (and having to have it rebuilt) after every 40 hours of racing.

The substantiated lore is that Ford wanted to use its 4.6-liter Modular engine for the Thunderbird and LS, likely one of the high-spec 4-valve version seen on the likes of the Mustang Cobra, Mark VIII, Aviator, Marauder, etc. However, the Mod engine allegedly didn’t clear some suspension bits when installed from below.

My realistic four-car dream garage is:

No, for lots of reasons, chiefly:

I don’t think people understand just how cheap used Jags can get. I just picked up an XK8 for $8,500 (you guys should run the reader submission I sent emailed about it)